Hospital bed

ABSTRACT

A hospital bed has a base with casters, a main frame mounted above the base, a patient support platform movably mounted on the main frame including a leg panel, and a toilet module disposed beneath the patient support platform and normally concealed by the leg panel. The platform moves toward a head end of the bed retracting the leg panel from over the toilet module exposing the toilet module for use. The leg panel pivots downwardly after exposing the toilet module, and a head panel pivots upwardly to configure the hospital bed into a chair position. Bolsters are located outboard of each lateral edge of the leg panel and provide side support to a patient moving from the platform to the toilet module and back. A pair of pivoting footboard halves or foot gates are operably mounted to the platform and retract with the platform to between the foot and head end casters. Downward forces applied to the foot gates when utilized as hand rails are applied intermediate the foot and head end casters. A frame is mounted to the bed and a travelling harness is mounted to the frame and is adapted to be secured to a patient to provide security and stability as the patient egresses from the bed and moves onto the toilet module.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/009,522,filed Jan. 20, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,888, which is a divisionalof application Ser. No. 08/755,480, filed Nov. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,708,997, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/277,243,filed Jul. 19, 1994, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,279, which is acontinuation in part of application Ser. No. 08/234,403, filed Apr. 28,1994, entitled FOOT EGRESS CHAIR BED, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,216 whichis a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 08/186,657, filed Jan.25, 1994, entitled FOOT EGRESS CHAIR BED, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,666,and a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 08/230,061, filedApr. 21, 1994, entitled MODULAR HOSPITAL BED AND METHOD OF PATIENTHANDLING, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,406, which is a continuation in partof application Ser. No. 08/186,657, filed Jan. 25, 1994, entitled FOOTEGRESS CHAIR BED, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,666, a continuation in part ofapplication Ser. No. 08/221,748, filed Mar. 31, 1994, entitled PATIENTWEIGH SCALE, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,849, a continuation in part ofapplication Ser. No. 08/221,633, filed Apr. 1, 1994, entitled LOW AIRLOSS MATTRESS WITH RIGID INTERNAL BLADDER AND AIR PALLET, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,483,709, and a continuation in part of application Ser. No.08/007,122, filed Jan. 21, 1993, entitled VENTILATOR, CARE CART ANDMOTORIZED TRANSPORT EACH CAPABLE OF NESTING WITHIN AND DOCKING WITH AHOSPITAL BED BASE, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,845, which is a continuationin part of application Ser. No. 07/912,826, filed Jul. 13, 1992,entitled VENTILATOR AND CARE CART EACH CAPABLE OF NESTING WITHIN ANDDOCKING WITH A HOSPITAL BED BASE, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,651, which isa continuation in part of application Ser. No. 07/874/586, filed Apr.24, 1992, entitled MOBILE VENTILATOR CAPABLE OF NESTING WITHIN ANDDOCKING WITH A HOSPITAL BED BASE, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,111, which isa continuation in part of application Ser. No. 07/524,038, filed May 16,1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,521, entitled CARE CART AND TRANSPORTSYSTEM, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein as iffully set forth in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to hospital beds, and more particularlyto hospital beds which convert from a bed configuration to a chairconfiguration and which, in doing so, provide for patient egress fromthe foot end of the bed and access to an onboard patient care module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During a patient's stay in a hospital, the patient is normally confinedto his or her hospital bed for some period of time, at least initially.During this portion of the patient's hospital stay, all of the carefunctions provided by attending physicians, nurses and the like areprovided to the patient as he or she resides on the hospital bed.

Since the patient is not ambulatory during this period of his or herstay, the patient is unable to leave the hospital bed and travel to, forexample, the bathroom. Thus, attending personnel must provide thepatient with a bedpan for use on the bed. As is appreciated, use of abedpan on a hospital bed by a patient who is in a generally supineposition is difficult and cumbersome, at best.

It has therefore been an objective of the present invention to provide ahospital bed which includes an on-board toilet module which permits useby a patient in a conventional manner as opposed to the difficultiesencountered with use of a traditional bedpan.

Hospital beds which convert to a chair configuration have been known forsome time. Particular types of chair beds which provide for convenientand ready egress of a patient from the foot end of the bed when the bedis configured into a chair configuration are disclosed in co-pendingapplications Ser. Nos. 08/234,403 and 08/186,657 assigned to theassignee of the present invention. In those applications, chair beds aredisclosed which have vacatable foot sections which, when the patientsupport platform is lowered to a lowermost position, allow the patient'sfeet to rest directly on the floor. Sideguards/handrails are provided onthe foot end of the bed and are convertible from pivoting footboardhalves for grasping by a patient to aid in egressing from the chairconfigured bed and in moving from a sitting position to a standingposition. The patient can manipulate the vertical control of thehospital bed to assist the patient in moving from a stooped position toan upright position.

Another objective of the present invention has been to provide ahospital bed which provides for repositioning sideguards/handrails whichare located at the foot end of the bed to a position intermediate thefoot end and head end casters such that any downward load applied by apatient to the sideguards/handrails is applied intermediate the head andfoot end casters in order to optimize the stability of the bed as apatient egresses from the bed and moves from a sitting position to astanding position.

In a chair bed of the type as disclosed in co-pending applications Ser.Nos. 08/234,403 and 08/186,657, the patient may have occasion to movefrom the chair configured bed to a patient care module positioned at thefoot end of the bed, such as, for example, an exerciser, a scooter orwalker, a toilet or a wheelchair, as disclosed in co-pending applicationSer. No. 08/230,061 also assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention. It would be helpful if structure were provided to help guideand stabilize the patient as the patient moves from the chair configuredbed to the patient care module.

It has therefore been yet another objective of the present invention toprovide apparatus for stabilizing and guiding a patient from a chairconfigured hospital bed to a patient care module positioned at the footend of the hospital bed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention attains the stated objectives by providing, in apreferred embodiment, a hospital bed comprising a base with casters, amain frame mounted above the base, a patient support platformlongitudinally movably mounted on the main frame and including a legpanel, and a toilet module disposed beneath the patient support platformand normally concealed by the leg panel. The patient support platformand toilet module are configured such that when the patient supportplatform is moved toward a head end of the bed the leg panel retractsfrom over the toilet module exposing the toilet module for use by apatient. The leg panel pivots downwardly after retracting from over thetoilet module, and the patient support platform further includes anupwardly pivoting head panel, the bed being configured such that whenthe leg panel is pivoted downwardly the head panel is pivoted upwardly,the bed assumes a chair position.

The patient support platform further includes a pair of bolsters, one ofwhich is located outboard of each lateral edge of the leg panel. The legpanel and bolsters are configured such that after the leg panel has beenpivoted downwardly the bolsters provide side support to a patient movingfrom the patient support platform to the toilet module and back.

The main frame of the hospital bed of the present invention includes apair of spaced, longitudinal, generally parallel rails, with each of therails having a foot end which diverges laterally outwardly. Thelaterally outwardly divergent foot ends of the main frame rails providestructure for guidingly docking therebetween a rollable patient caremodule, for example toilet, wheelchair or the like, to the main frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a hospital bed isprovided which comprises a base having head and foot ends and castersmounted on the head and foot ends, a main frame mounted above the base,a patient support platform longitudinally movably mounted on the mainframe, and a pair of pivoting footboard halves operably mounted to thepatient support platform one of which is located on each lateral side ata foot end thereof. The footboard halves when oriented laterally to thebed function together as a footboard and when oriented longitudinally tothe bed function separately as sideguards/handrails. The base andfootboard halves are configured such that when the patient supportplatform is moved toward a head end of the bed the footboard halves areretracted to between the foot end casters and the head end casters. Thepatient support platform includes a downwardly pivoting leg panel and anupwardly pivoting head panel. The bed is configured such that when thepatient support platform is moved toward the head end of the bed, theleg panel is pivoted downwardly and the head panel is pivoted upwardly,such that the bed assumes a chair position. A patient egressing from thechair configured bed and moving from a sitting position to a standingposition while utilizing the sideguards/handrails applies a downwardforce via the sideguards/handrails intermediate the foot end casters andthe head end casters, thus providing for maximum stability.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a hospital bedcomprises a base with casters, a main frame mounted above the base, anda patient support platform mounted on the main frame and including aseat panel, a downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivotinghead panel, and a pair of bolsters one of which is located outboard ofeach lateral edge of the leg panel. The bolsters are movable from aposition forward of and in a plane defined by the seat panel to aposition above and along each lateral edge of the seat panel when theleg panel is pivoted downwardly and the head panel is pivoted upwardlyto provide arm rests for a patient situated atop the bed configured as achair.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, a hospitalbed comprises a base with casters, a main frame having head and footends mounted above the base, a patient support platform having head andfoot ends longitudinally movably mounted on the main frame and includinga downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivoting head panel. Thepatient support platform is configured such that when the patientsupport platform is moved toward a head end of the main frame the legpanel pivots downwardly and the head panel pivots upwardly, the bedthereby assuming a chair position. A frame is mounted to the head of themain frame and the foot end of the main frame and extends along and overthe patient support platform. A traveling harness is mounted to theframe and is adapted to be secured to a patient. The traveling harnessprovides security and stability to a patient as the patient egressesfrom the bed configured as a chair and moves from a sitting position toa standing position and onto a patient care module positioned at thefoot end of the main frame.

According to still a further aspect of the present invention, the framementioned above is mounted to the head end of the main frame and isoperably mounted to the foot end of the patient support platform. Theframe is operable to extend and retract along the length thereof as thepatient support platform extends and retracts on the main frame. Theframe is an orthopedic frame which maintains a relative distance betweenthe frame and a patient on the patient support platform as the platformextends and retracts.

In order to carry out the longitudinal movement of the patient supportplatform and the pivotal movement of the leg panel, the presentinvention provides a first piston and cylinder drive for moving thepatient support platform longitudinally toward the head end of the bed,and a second piston and cylinder drive for pivoting the leg paneldownwardly after the patient support platform has traveled apredetermined distance toward the head end of the main frame in order tofirst clear the onboard patient care module. The leg panel comprises acalf panel pivoted relative to the main frame and a foot panel pivotedto the calf panel. A first linkage is operable between the foot and calfpanels for pivoting the foot panel relative to the calf panel, and asecond linkage is operable between the calf panel and the main frame forpivoting the calf panel relative to the main frame, with both thelinkages being actuated by the second piston and cylinder drive.

The first linkage comprises a first link having first and second ends,the first end being pivoted to the foot panel, a second link havingfirst and second ends, the first end being pivoted to the second end ofthe second link, the second end having a protuberance thereon, thesecond link being pivoted to the calf panel intermediate the first andsecond ends, and a roller operably connected to the first piston andcylinder drive and normally contacting the second link intermediate thefirst and second ends. When the first piston and cylinder drive isactuated the roller rides along the second link towards theprotuberance; the second link rotates in response thereto causing aforce to be applied to the first link which moves the foot paneldownwardly relative to the calf panel. The first linkage furtherincludes a spring operable between the foot panel and the first end ofthe second link.

The second linkage comprises at least a second roller operably connectedto the first drive, the calf panel including a roller bearing plate forthe second roller to roll along and bear against, the roller bearingplate supporting the calf panel on the second roller. When the firstdrive is actuated the second roller rides along the roller bearing platetoward an end thereof. When the second roller rolls off the end of theroller bearing plate, the calf panel is permitted to move downwardlyrelative to the main frame. The roller bearing plate further includes aramp commencing at the end thereof, and when the second roller rolls offthe end the second roller rolls along the ramp.

One advantage of the present invention is that a hospital bed isprovided which includes an onboard toilet module which permits use by apatient in a conventional manner as opposed to the difficultiesencountered with use of a traditional bedpan. The toilet module can becarried by the bed full-time in an onboard manner. No lengthening of thebed is required however as the toilet module fits within the footprintof a standard 93 inch long hospital bed.

Another advantage of the present invention is that a hospital bed isprovided with pivoting footboard halves which are located at the footend of the bed and which are utilizable as sideguards/handrails when apatient egresses the chair configured bed, which sideguards/handrailsare repositionable prior to patent egress such that the downward loadapplied by the patient on the sideguards/handrails is appliedintermediate the head and foot end casters thus optimizing the stabilityof the bed during patient egress therefrom.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that apparatus isprovided for use in conjunction with a bed which converts to a chair forstabilizing and guiding a patient from the chair configured bed to apatient care module positioned at the foot end of the bed.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that in a hospitalbed which converts to a chair, bolsters are provided adjacent thelateral edges of the leg panel which, when the leg panel is dropped toform a chair, are repositionable upwardly and rearwardly to over thelateral edges of the seat panel thereby providing convenient armrestsfor the patient in the chair configured bed.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent during the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the drawings herein, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the hospital bed of the presentinvention;

FIG. 1A is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the patient supportplatform shown in a lowermost position and with the head panel pivotedupwardly and the leg panel pivoted downwardly;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is the encircled area of FIG. 1 shown enlarged;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but just of the seat, thigh and legpanels;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A-F are views taken along line 7A--7A of FIG. 5 during downwardpivoting of the leg panel;

FIGS. 8A-F are views taken along line 8A--8A of FIG. 5 also duringdownward pivoting of the leg panel;

FIGS. 9A-B are views taken along line 9A--9A of FIG. 5 during initialretraction of the patient support platform;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1A but with the thigh and leg panelspivoted upwardly;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a bolster and associated orthopedicframe and foot gate sockets;

FIG. 12 is a perspective of the hospital bed of the present inventionshown in conjunction with a wheelchair;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the hospital bed of the presentinvention shown in conjunction with a toilet module and a patient safetyharness;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the hospital bed of the presentinvention shown in conjunction with a mobile power column;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative form of bolster;

FIGS. 15A-B are perspective views of a hospital bed incorporating thebolsters of FIG. 15;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the foot end of the main frame withpreferred embodiments of the toilet module, toilet module latches andfoot gates;

FIG. 17 is a view taken along line 17--17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a view taken along line 18--18 of FIG. 16; and

FIGS. 19A-E are sequence side elevation views of the bed of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a hospital bed 10according to the present invention. The bed 10 comprises, generally, abase 12, a main frame 14 mounted above the base 12, and a patientsupport platform 16 movably mounted on the main frame 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, it will be seen that the base 12 of hospitalbed 10 includes a pair of frame members 20, 20 each of which includes afirst longitudinally oriented section 22, a first laterally outwardlydiverging section 24, a second longitudinally oriented section 26 and asecond laterally outwardly diverging section 28. Base 12 of hospital bed10 is of extended length and defines a "Y" shape, the opening of whichis toward the foot end of the bed 10. The advantages of the extendedlength and foot facing "Y" will be subsequently described.

At the head end of the base 12 there is a transverse member 30 connectedto the head ends of the longitudinally oriented sections 22, 22 of thebase frame members 20, 20. On the laterally outward ends of thetransverse member 30 are head end casters 32. Mounted on the foot endsof sections 28, 28 of the frame members 20, 20 of the base 12 are footend casters 34.

The main frame 14 includes a pair of longitudinally oriented rails orframe members 40 which span the length of the bed 10. Connected to thehead end of each of the rails 40 is a transverse cross member 42 fromwhich extends upwardly a headboard 44. A pair of braces 46, 46 connectthe head ends of the rails 40 to the head end cross member 42. At thefoot end of the main frame 14 each of the rails 40 include a laterallyoutwardly diverging section 48. Pivotally attached to the ends of eachof the sections 48 is a pivoting footboard half 50. Pivoting footboardhalves or foot gates 50, 50, when oriented transversely to the length ofthe bed 10, function together as a footboard. When the pivotingfootboard halves 50, 50 are pivoted toward the head end of the bed 10 toa position generally parallel the length of the bed 10, the footboardhalves 50, 50 function separately as sideguards/handrails for aiding apatient in egressing from the bed 10 when the bed 10 is configured as achair. The main frame 14 is of extended or full length and hasadvantages which likewise will be described.

A pair of parallelogram linkages 60, 60 movably mount the main frame 14to and above the base 12. Each parallelogram linkage 60 includes upperand lower links 62, 64 having lower ends pivotally connected to abracket 66 mounted to member 30 of base 12 at pivots 68, 70respectively. The links 62, 64 are pivoted at their upper ends to abracket 72 mounted to each main frame rail 40 at pivots 74, 76. Brackets72 are pivoted to the rails 40 at pivots 78. Main frame 14 pivots at thepivots 78, 78 relative to the linkage 60 and hence base 12 thusproviding Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg movement of the mainframe 14 and hence the patient support platform 16. A pair of gassprings 80, 80 are located beneath rail 40 of main frame 14 and havecylinder ends connected to the lower end of each bracket 72 and pistonrod ends connected to each rail 40. The two pairs of gas springs 80, 80provide rotational resistance to the main frame 14 when positioned inthe Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positions and any positionin between. Gas springs 80 may be actuated by any conventional means.

A hydraulic piston and cylinder 82 has a cylinder end pivotallyconnected between the sections 22 of the base frame members 20 at pivot84 and a piston rod end pivotally connected between the upper links 62of each parallelogram linkage 60 at a pivot connection 86. Pivot 86 islocated between a pair of triangular plates 87, 87 both of which aremounted to a pair of cross braces 88, 88 spanning between and connectedto upper links 62, 62 of the parallelogram linkages 60, 60. Extensionand retraction of the piston and cylinder 82 moves main frame 14upwardly and downwardly relative to the base 12.

The patient support platform 16 includes a head panel 90, a seat panel92, a thigh panel 94 and a leg panel 96. Head panel 90 and seat panel 92are hinged at pivot points 98, 98. Seat panel 92 and thigh panel 94 arehinged at pivot points 100, 100.

Leg panel 96 comprises a calf panel 102, a panel 104 and a pair oflateral side bolsters 106, 106. Lateral side bolsters 106, 106 arepivoted to thigh panel 94 at outboard pivots 108 and inboard pivots 110.Inboard pivots 110 also serve to pivot calf panel 102 to thigh panel 94.Foot panel 104 is pivoted to the calf panel 102 via pivots 112.

Seat panel 102 is mounted upon a carriage 120 which includes a pair ofrollers 122, 122 on either lateral side thereof. Each pair of rollers122, 122 rolls within an inwardly facing channel 124 secured to aninboard side of each rail 40 of the main frame 14 (FIG. 6).

A piston and cylinder 126 has a cylinder end 126a pivotally connected tothe forward end of main frame 14 at pivot 128 and a piston rod end 126bpivotally connected between a pair of links 130, 130 at 132. Each of thelinks 130, 130 is pivotally connected at a pivot 134 to a torque plate136 which itself is fixedly secured to the head panel 90. Extension andretraction of the piston and cylinder 126 thus serves to extend towardthe foot end and retract away from the foot end the patient supportplatform 16 along the main frame 14, as well as to pivot downwardly andupwardly the head panel 90. Head panel 90 is additionally connected tothe main frame 14 via a pair of links 138, 138 each of which has a headend 138a pivotally connected to the main frame 14 at a pivot 140 and afoot end 138b pivotally connected to the head panel 90 at a pivot 142. Abracket 144 depends from the seat panel 92 and carries an upper roller146 and a lower roller 148. The piston rod 150 of the piston andcylinder 126 resides between the rollers 146, 148, the rollers providingsupport against upward and downward deflections of the rod 150. The fullstroke of the piston and cylinder 126 is 18 inches. Thus, when thepatient support platform 16 is in the normally horizontal and extended(retracted) attitude, rod 150 and hence pivot 132 are fully extended.Retraction of the pivot 132 18 inches toward the head end of the bed 10via the piston and cylinder 126 results in 12 inches of travel of thepatient support platform 16 on the main frame 14 toward the head end ofthe bed 10, with 6 inches of motion being lost between pivots 132 and134. Six inches of relative travel between the pivots 132 and 134results in the head panel 90 being pivoted to the full up position viathe torque plates 136, 136 (FIG. 1A); likewise, 12 inches of travel ofthe pivot 134 and hence pivot 98 results in the links 138, 138 drivingthe head panel 90 to the full up position (also FIG. 1A). Thecombination of torque plates 136, 136 in conjunction with links 138, 138provides for efficient upward pivoting of the head panel 90, as torqueplates 136, 136 are most effective during initial upward pivoting ofhead panel 90 whereas links 138, 138 are most efficient during finalupward pivoting of the head panel 90.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8A-F, a second carriage 160 is provided foractuation of the leg panel 96. Carriage 160 comprises a transversemember 162 and a longitudinal plate member 164 mounted on each lateralend 162a, 162b of the transverse member 162. One roller 166 of a pair ofrollers 166, 166 is mounted on each end 164a, 164b of each of thelongitudinal members 164, 164. Each of the two roller pairs 166, 166rolls within one of the channels 124, 124 secured to each of the railmembers 40, 40 of the main frame 14. A piston and cylinder 168 has acylinder end 168a pivotally connected to a bracket 170 at 172, whichbracket 170 is secured to the underneath side of the seat panel 92. Thepiston rod end 168b of the cylinder 168 is pivotally secured to thecross member 162 at 174. A plate 176 is fixedly secured to the crossmember 162 inboard of each plate 164. Each plate 176 carries a roller178. Each roller 178 rides along and in contact with a roller bearingsurface or plate 180, which itself is a part of a vertically orienteddownwardly extending plate 182 connected to each lateral edge 102a, 102bof the calf panel 102. The plate 182 further includes an upwardly angledramp 184 commencing at a head end edge 186 of the roller bearing plate180. Ramp 184 is actually one side of a channel 188 including anopposite side 190. Calf panel 102 is supported on rollers 178, 178 byvirtue of the fact that each roller tearing plate 180 bears down uponand against one of the rollers 178. Each roller 178 is operable to rollalong its respective roller bearing plate 180 as the piston and cylinder168 extends and retracts. As each roller 178 rolls past each edge 186 ofeach plate 180 the calf panel 102 is permitted to pivot downwardlyrelative to the main frame 14, the operation of which will be describedsubsequently.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7A-F, a first link 200 has a first end 200apivoted to the foot panel 104 at pivot 202. A second link 204 has afirst end 204c pivoted to the second end 200b of link 200 at 206, and aprotuberance 208 on a second end 204b. Link 204 is pivoted to a bracket205 mounted on the calf panel 102 at pivot 210. A plate 212 is fixedlysecured to cross member 162 of the carriage 160. Pivotally mounted onthe plate 212 is a roller 214. Roller 214 normally contacts the loweredge 204c of link 204 near the pivot 206 when the patient supportplatform 16 is in a generally horizontal attitude. Retraction of thepiston and cylinder 168 causes the roller 212 to travel along the loweredge 204c of link 204 toward the protuberance 208. Further travel of theroller 214 causes the foot panel 104 to pivot downwardly relative to thecalf panel 102, the operation of which will be described subsequently. Agas spring 216 has a piston rod end 216a pivotally mounted to the footpanel 104 at 218 and a cylinder end 216b pivotally mounted to the link204 at the pivot 206. Gas spring 216 is normally under compression; thatis to say, gas spring 216 has a tendency to extend itself.

Describing now the operation of the leg panel 96, and referring nowspecifically to FIGS. 7A-F, the patient support platform 16 begins inthe normally horizontal, planar attitude. Initial retraction of thepiston and cylinder 168 causes the roller 214 to ride along theunderneath side 204c of the link 204. Continued retraction of the pistonand cylinder 168 causes the roller 214 to contact the protuberance 208on link 204. Further retraction of the piston cylinder 168 causes thelink 204 to begin rotating counterclockwise about pivot 210 due to theaction of roller 214 on protuberance 208, and the action of the gasspring 216 upon link 204. Counterclockwise rotation of link 204 exerts adownward force on foot panel 104 via the connection therebetween by link200.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-F, which correspond in time sequence to FIGS.7A-F, as the piston and cylinder 168 retracts, the carriage 160 travelstoward the head end of the bed 10. Rollers 178, 178 which support thecalf panel 102 as the roller bearing plates 180, 180 bear thereupon,travel toward the head end edges 186, 186 of the roller bearing plates180, 180. As each roller 178 rolls past each edge 186, gravity allowsthe calf panel 102 to begin dropping downwardly by pivoting at pivot 110as the channels 188, 188 collapse downwardly onto the rollers 178, 178,the rollers 178, 178 rolling upwardly relative to the ramps 184, 184each of which is one side of the channels 188, 188.

Thus, complete retraction of the cylinder 168 results in the conditionshown in FIGS. 1A, 7F and 8F wherein the foot panel 104 has been pivotedrelative to the calf panel 102 by slightly more than 90°, and whereinthe calf panel 102 has been pivoted relative to the thigh panel 94 byapproximately 90°. And, full retraction of the piston and cylinder 126causes the patient support platform 16 to be translated toward the headend of the bed 10 and the head panel 90 to be pivoted to the upwardmostposition (FIG. 1A). Thus, in this configuration, the bed 10 isconfigured as a chair.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the hospital bed 10 of the present inventionis shown with a toilet module 230 used in conjunction therewith. Toiletmodule 230 includes a toilet portion 232, a seat portion 234 and casters236. The seat 236 can conveniently slidably engage the sections 48, 48of the rails 40, 40 of the main frame 12. The toilet 232 may then berolled underneath the seat 234. Alternatively, the assembled seat 234and toilet 232 may remain attached to the main frame 40, and carriedwith the bed 10 as an onboard toilet module. Toilet module 236conveniently fits within the footprint of the standard 93 inch lengthhospital bed 10, thus requiring no lengthening of bed 10, and isnormally concealed by the leg panel 96. In use of the hospital bed 10with the toilet module 230, the bed would be in its normally horizontalattitude with the leg section 96 concealing the module 30 and thepatient 262 lying supine upon the mattress 238 atop the patient supportplatform 16. A preferable mattress for use with the hospital bed 10 ofthe present invention is disclosed in application Ser. No. 08/234,403.Piston and cylinder 126 is then energized to translate the entirepatient support platform 16 towards the head end of the bed 10 relativeto the main frame 14. Head panel 90 pivots upwardly during thisretraction as described above. Once the patient support platform 16 hasbeen fully retracted atop the main frame 14 as detected by appropriatesensors known to those skilled in the art, appropriate control circuitryand the like, likewise known to those skilled in the art, energizespiston and cylinder 168. Since the patient support surface 16 has beenfully retracted prior to activation of downward pivoting of the foot andcalf panels 104 and 102 respectively, the foot end edge 240 of footpanel 104 has cleared the head end edge 242 of the toilet module 230,the dimension of the toilet module 230 from head end edge 242 to footend edge 244 being slightly less than the 12 inches of horizontal traveltraversed by the patient support 16 on the main frame 14. Pivoting ofthe foot panel 104 relative to the calf panel 102 and pivoting of thecalf panel 102 relative to the thigh panel 94 then proceeds as discussedabove in connection with the discussion of FIGS. 7A-F and FIGS. 8A-F,respectively. As described in applications Ser. Nos. 08/234,403 and08/186,657, the patient support platform 16 is lowerable to a lowermostposition to allow a patient's feet to rest directly on the floor. Bedcontrols, known to those skilled in the art, may be located on the footgates 50, 50 as illustrated at 400, on the standard sideguards 402 asillustrated at 404, or both to allow for manipulation of the bed 10.

Once the patient's feet are securely placed on the floor, the patientcan employ the vertical lift piston and cylinder 82, activated bypatient controls 400 or 404 on the foot gates 50, 50 or sideguards 402,respectively, to power lift the patient to an upright position, asdescribed in applications Ser. Nos. 08/234,403 and 08/186,657. Once inthe upright standing position, the patient can turn 180° so as to beseated upon seat 234, which has traveled upwardly with main frame 14during the above-described vertical lift assist. Since the seat 234 isin a high position, the transition from standing to sitting is eased forthe patient. The main frame 14 and toilet module seat 234 can then belowered to a comfortable sitting position for the patient. Once patientelimination is complete, the vertical lift cylinder 82 can be activatedby the patient utilizing the patient controls 400 or 404 to urge thepatient to a standing position, at which time the patient can turn back180° so as to be in a position to again sit in the chair configured bed.The bed can then be lowered to ease the patient back into the sittingposition. See FIGS. 19A-D.

Similarly, the hospital bed 10 of the present invention can be used inconjunction with other patient care modules, such as, for example, thewheelchair module 250 as shown in FIG. 12. Such a wheelchair 250 wouldinclude a base 252, wheels 254, a backrest 256, a seat 258 andappropriate controls 260. As with the toilet module 230, the wheelchairmodule 250 could be docked to the bed 10 as an onboard module whichtravels with the bed 10. The seat 258 would, as with the toilet module230, reside under and normally be concealed by the leg section 96 andwould travel upwardly and downwardly with main frame 14 to assist apatient in sitting on and rising from the wheelchair 250. As with thetoilet module 230, the leg section 96 would retract from over the seat258 at which time downward pivoting of the foot and calf portions 104and 102 respectively would occur thus providing access to the wheelchairmodule 252 by a patient 262.

An alternative form of mounting for the pivoting footboard halves orfoot gates 50, 50 and which allows for those footboard halves 50, 50 tobe repositioned such that any weight applied thereon by a patient, suchas shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, would be applied between or intermediate ofthe head end casters 32 and foot end casters 34 of the bed 10 is shownin FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, an extension 270 is secured to each bolster 106.Each extension 270 would include a foot gate socket 272 and a fractureframe socket 274 (the use of which will be described subsequently).Thus, rather than being pivotally mounted to the ends of the sections48,48 of the rails 40, 40 of the main frame 14, the pivoting footboardhalves 50, 50 would be pivotally mounted within the foot gate sockets272, 272 as by a shaft (not shown) depending from the bottom of eachfootboard half or foot gate 50. Thus, as the patient support platform 16retracts atop the main frame 14 by virtue of the action of the pistonand cylinder 126, the footboard halves 50, 50 travel with the patientsupport platform 16 such that they are repositioned to a positionintermediate the head end casters 32 and foot end casters 34. Thus, whenswung from their positions generally transverse to the bed 10 at whichthey function together as a footboard, to their positions generallyparallel the longitudinal dimension of the bed 10, the footboard halves50, 50 may function as sideguards/handrails as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13thus aiding a patient 262 in moving from the chair configured bed 10 toa patient care module such as the toilet module 230 or wheelchair module250. The downward force applied by the patient 262 to thesideguards/handrails 50, 50 is thus directed within the footprint of thecasters, thus providing for optimum bed stability when egressing the bedand alighting upon one of the patient care modules.

As shown in FIG. 13, a frame 280 is provided for use with the hospitalbed 10. The frame 280 includes a vertical head end portion 282 whichincludes appropriate lower ends, one of which is shown at 284, forinsertion into sockets 286 in the head ends of each of the rails 40, 40of the main frame 14. The frame 280 further includes vertical foot endportions 288, 288 having appropriate lower ends 290, 290 for insertioninto the fracture frame sockets 274, 274. To accommodate the changes inrelative distance between the foot end vertical members 288 and the headend vertical member 282 a pair of telescoping horizontal members 292 and294 are provided such that the frame 280 can extend and retract as thepatient support platform 16 extends and retracts. The frame 280 can beused as a fracture or orthopedic frame. In that case, the frame andtraction apparatus associated therewith remain in the same relativeposition to a patient 262 supported on the bed 10 during extension andretraction of the patient support platform 16.

In addition, the frame 280 can include a safety harness 300 which isoperable to travel the length of the frame 280. Harness 300 includes atraveling collar 302 slidably mounted on frame member 294. Verticaltethers 304, 304 connect the collar 302 go to a vest 306 worn by thepatient 262. The traveling harness 300 helps to provide security andstability to the patient 262 as the patient egresses from the bed 10configured as a chair and moves from a sitting position to a standingposition and onto a patient care module positioned at the foot end ofthe bed 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 9A-B and 10, a pin 310 is fixedly secured toeach lateral rail 312 of the foot section 104. Pin 310 normally residesin a slot 314 in the underneath side of inboard lateral rail 316 of thebolster 106. A link 318 has a first end 318a pivoted to plate 164 ofcarriage 160 at 320. The second end 318b of the link 318 includes anupturned finger portion 322 thereon. A block 324 is pivoted to link 318at pivot 326. Block 324 includes a notch 328 in an upper forward cornerthereof including a horizontal surface 328a and a vertical surface 328b.

A piston and cylinder 330 includes a cylinder end 330a pivotallyconnected to an L-shaped bracket 332 connected to seat panel 92 at pivot334. A piston rod end 330b is pivotally connected to the thigh panel 94at a pivot 336. Piston and cylinder 330 is operable to pivot thigh panel94 and the entire leg panel 96 upwardly to provide for elevation of apatient's feet and legs.

For piston and cylinder 330 to raise the entire leg section 96 upwardlyto the position shown in FIG. 10, piston and cylinder 330 is energizedprior to any retraction of the patient support platform 16. As pivots108, 110 move upwardly due to the action of the piston and cylinder 330,pin 310 acting upon vertical surface 328b of block 324 causes block 324and hence the link 318 to pivot upwardly about pivot 320. Thus, the footpanel 104 and the bolsters 106 which are connected thereto via the pins108, 310 remain in a generally horizontal attitude as the thigh panel 94is pivoted upwardly. As can be seen in FIG. 10, when the leg panel 96 isin the raised position, the hook portion 322 of the link 318 hooks overthe pin 310. Thus, the leg panel 96 comprising the calf panel 102, footpanel 104 and side bolsters 106, 106 remains locked against anyinadvertent further upward lifting which could tend to disengage the legpanel 96 from the links 318, 318 and blocks 324, 324.

As is best seen and understood in FIGS. 7A-B and 9A-B, during initialretraction of carriage 160 via piston and cylinder 168, the horizontalsurface 328a of the block 324 is moved from under the pin 310, and thehook portion 322 of link 318 is moved to the head end side of the pin310. Since pin 310 is thus free to drop out of the groove 314, footpanel 104 is thus freed to pivot downwardly relative to the sidebolsters 106, 106.

Referring now to FIG. 15, there is shown an alternative form of thebolster 106. In this form, bolster 106 includes an additional or upperbolster frame member 340 pivotally connected to the standard lowerbolster 106 via a parallelogram linkage 342. Parallelogram linkage 342includes a first pair of links 344, 344 each of which is pivotallyconnected on a first end 344a to a pivot 346, and each of which includesa second end 344b pivoted to the frame member 340 at pivot 348. A secondpair of links 350, 350 each has a first end 350a pivoted to bolster 106at pivots 108, 110 and a second end 350b pivoted to the frame member 340at pivot 354. One of the links 350 includes a stop 356 and associatedlatch mechanism (not shown) which is brought into contact with the lowersurface of the frame 340 thus limiting further pivoting movement of theframe member 340 and securing it in the elevated rearward position.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show the alternative form of the bolsters 106, 106including pivoting bolster/arm rest portions 340. In these Figures, theframe members 340 are covered with suitable padding and fabric 358. Wheneach of the frame members 340 is in a position juxtaposed to thebolsters 106, the combination bolster 106 with upholstered frame member340 serves as a side-to-side protective restraint for a patient similarto the prior bolster embodiment. When the bed 10 is configured in achair position, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the upholstered framemembers 340 may be pivoted from a low forward position to a highrearward position; that is the upholstered frame members 340 are movablefrom a position forward of and in a plane defined by the seat panel 92to a position above and along each lateral edge of the seat panel 92when the leg panel 96 is pivoted downwardly and the head panel 90 ispivoted upwardly, thus providing convenient armrests for a patientsituated atop the bed 10 configured as a chair.

Referring now to FIG. 14, the bed 10 is shown in conjunction with amobile power column 370. Mobile power column 370 includes a base 372,casters 374 mounted to the base 372, and an upright support 376connected to the base 372. The upright support 376 may support infusionpumps 378 and infusion solution bags 380, a monitor 382, a keyboard 384,air and/or oxygen tanks 386 and a ventilator 388. A housing 390 mountedto base 372 may house batteries (not shown) and the like, as well as amotorized drive (not shown) for powering the mobile power column 370.With a patient 262 situated atop the bed 10, and with the leg panel 96folded downwardly, a convenient cavity 392 is formed in the foot end ofthe bed 10 which may be taken advantage of for docking the mobile powercolumn 370 to the bed 10 for mobile transport of the patient 362 andcritical care apparatus with the entire combination taking up no morespace than the bed 10 alone.

Referring now to FIGS. 16-18, and with like numbers referring to likeelements, preferred embodiments of the toilet module 230 and foot gates50, 50 are illustrated. Toilet module 230 comprises a framework 450including a lower trapezoidal frame 452, an upper trapezoidal frame 454and upwardly extending rear vertical posts 456, 456 and upwardlyextending forward vertical posts 458, 458. A pair of longitudinal struts460, 460 span the upper rectangular frame 454 and support a toilet seat462 from which depends a toilet chamber 464. A laterally extending bar466 extends laterally outwardly from the upper end of each forward post458, the use for which will be subsequently described.

A latch block 470 is secured to the lower end of each of the rails 40.Each latch block 470 takes the form of a tube and includes a notch 472therein for accepting a respective vertical support 456. A plunger 474is spring loaded towards a closed position via a compression spring 476within the latch block 470. The plunger 470 includes a chamfer 478 and asemicircular groove 480 therein. Chamfer 478 aids in compressing thelatch block 474 and hence compression spring 476 by support 456. Oncethe vertical pole 456 reaches the semicircular notch 480 the plunger 474snaps securely against the pole 456.

An ear of a pair of ears 482, 482 is secured to the lowermost side ofeach of the rails 40, 40 of the main frame 14. When the toilet module230 engages the main frame 14, the laterally extending bars 466 aresupported by the ears 482. Once the module 230 is docked to the mainframe 14, module 230 may travel upwardly and downwardly with the mainframe 14 as it is raised and lowered, the bars 466 being supported bythe ears 482, and the rear corners of the upper frame 454 beingsupported by the latch blocks 470.

A preferred form of foot gate 50 includes an inner tube 490 welded tothe rail 40 at the foot end thereof. An outer tube 492 slidably residesover the inner tube 490. Outer tube 492 includes a washer 494 weldedtherein, the upper surface of which supports a compression spring 496. Ascrew 498 has a head 500 which exerts a downward force on a washer 502and hence spring 496, the lower end 504 of which is threaded into theupper end 506 of the inner tube 490. The lower end of the outer tube 492includes an exterior collar 508 which includes four equally spacednotches 510 therein. Notches 510 accept a pin 512 pressed into the lowerend of the inner tube 490. Thus, outer tube 492 is spring biaseddownwardly relative to inner tube 490. An upper tube 514 is fixedlysecured to the upper end of the outer tube 492. A lower support rail 516is connected to the tube 514 and the outer tube 492. One of the tubes514 includes a U-shaped groove 518 therein including notches 520 and522. A plug 524 includes a pin 526 which engages the groove 518. Whenthe tubes 514 are rotated to a position wherein they are collinear, pin526 may be moved from notch 520 to notch 522 thus causing the plug 524to move into engagement with the end of the other tube 514 therebylocking the foot gates together. When unlocked, horizontal force appliedto the ends of the tubes 514 cause the notches 510 to ride upwardly andover the pins 512 until the next notch is reached at which time theouter tube 494 snaps downwardly back over the pin 512.

It will therefore be appreciated that the hospital bed of the presentinvention provides a number of distinct advantages. The Y-shaped bedbase, opening toward the foot end, provides a cavity into which apatient care module may reside, such as toilet module or wheelchair, andwhich also provides room for a patient to maneuver to sit upon thatmodule. No lengthening of a standard hospital bed is required toaccommodate the patient care module. The extended length base allows thefoot gates to be repositionable intermediate the head end and foot endcastors and to serve as hand rails as the patient sits upon the patientcare module. Apparatus is provided for guidingly assisting a patientonto a patient care module. Bolsters include armrests which arepivotable upwardly and toward a head end of the bed for patient comfortand security when sitting in the chair configured bed. The full lengthmain frame allows for patient care modules to be connected to a foot endthereof.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations andmodifications which can be made to the present invention which willresult in an improved hospital bed, all of which will fall within thespirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the followingclaims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope ofthe following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination of hospital apparatus comprising:ahospital bed having a base with casters, a main frame mounted above saidbase, a patient support platform mounted on said main frame andincluding a seat panel, a downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardlypivoting head panel, and a pair of bolsters, one of which is locatedoutboard of each lateral edge of said leg panel; and a mobile powercolumn having a base with casters, a support extending upwardly fromsaid base and patient critical care equipment supported by said support;said mobile power column occupying a cavity defined between saidbolsters when said foot panel is pivoted downwardly.
 2. A pivotinghospital bed foot gate convertible to a hand rail comprising:a verticalinner tube adapted to be fixed to a portion of a hospital bed; avertical outer tube spring biased to a downward position over said innertube; a horizontal tube connected to said vertical outer tube; a pinsecured to a lower end of said vertical inner tube; and a collar on alower end of said vertical outer tube and including a plurality ofnotches each for receiving said pin therein; wherein when one of saidfoot gates is mounted at each lateral side of the hospital bed at a footend thereof, said foot gates function together as a footboard whenoriented collinear with respect to each other, and when orientedparallel to each other function separately as sideguards, said notchesand pin locating said gates in their respective positions.
 3. The footgate of claim 2 wherein when one of said foot gates is mounted at eachlateral side of the hospital bed at a foot end thereof, said foot gatesmay, when oriented collinear with respect to each other, be securedtogether, one of said foot gates including a sliding plunger slidableinto the other of said foot gates to lock said foot gates together.
 4. Ahospital bed comprising:a base with casters; a main frame having headand foot ends mounted above said base; a patent support platform havinghead and foot ends and longitudinally movably mounted on said main frameand including a downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivotinghead panel, said patient support platform being configured such thatwhen said patient support platform is moved toward a head end of saidmain frame said leg panel pivots downwardly and said head panel pivotsupwardly, said bed assuming a chair position; a frame mounted to saidhead end of said main frame and said foot end of said main frame andextending along and over said patient support platform; and a travelingharness mounted to said frame and adapted to be secured to a patient;said traveling harness for providing security and stability to a patientas the patient egresses from said bed configured as a chair and movesfrom a sitting position to a standing position and onto a patient caremodule positioned at said foot end of said main frame.
 5. A hospital bedcomprising:a base with casters; a main frame having head and foot endsmounted above said base; a patent support platform having head and footends longitudinally movably mounted on said main frame and including adownwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivoting head panel, saidpatient support platform being configured such that when said patientsupport platform is moved toward a head end of said main frame said legpanel pivots downwardly and said head panel pivots upwardly, said bedassuming a chair position; and a frame mounted to said head end of saidmain frame and operably mounted to said foot end of said patient supportplatform and extending along and over said patient support platform,said frame being operable to extend and retract along a length thereofas said patient support platform extends and retracts on said mainframe.
 6. The hospital bed of claim 5, wherein said frame is anorthopedic frame which maintains a relative distance between said frameand a patient as said patient support platform extends and retracts.